What quad-core AMD cpu will hit 4.0ghz on air easily?

Not many AMD CPUs hit 4.0 GHz easily, but the Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition C3 has a pretty decent chance of hitting 4.0 GHz on air. As for the motherboard, depends on your budget and whether you plan on CrossFireX or not. A decent board is the ASRock 870 Extreme3, which is relatively cheap at $89.99, and has quite a lot of features to go with it.

I wanna try to do $225 for cpu/mobo/4gb ram.. is that doable?

would i be able to use stock cpu cooling?? does it have to be the BE??

for the motherboard im not planning to crossfire.. i also would like 5.1 onboard audio sound using digital output
onboard video not needed as i want to get a video card

Computer will be used mainly as a HTPC, minor gaming (StarCraft2 pending reviews), and some HD video editing...

it will be connected to my 42" 1080p LCD and 5.1 speakers..

Best value I can find is:
Asrock 880GM-LE $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $81.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz $100.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
The only way to get this much lower is to get a dated motherboard and DDR2 RAM and you need a better cooler if you do more than the smallest overclock. For gaming you may do better with a 3 core processor and spend more on the graphics card.

O.O It's best it is a BE but it doesn't have to at 225 it really is hard to even find a combo that makes that tiny budget you want to hit. When you get the 955/Asrock Extreme3 already your budget is over. In your situation you don't even need to have a cpu that reaches 4.0ghz. Your best bet is to go with the 945 or the i3-540. Also for the almost any AM3 and 1156/1366 cpu that hits 4.0ghz, your not going to be able to cool it with just stock cooling...

Depends which CPU, the new AMD x6 has chances of hitting 4.5 on air with its stock cooler, the AMD stock cooler is FAR better than the Intels Stock coolers.

thanks everyone for the replies..



okay ive decided to go AM3 motherboard and DDR3 ram..

i wanna go for the cheapest OEM AM3 CPU with the best valued after market CPU cooler..

i would like the best overclocking cpu, hit 4.0ghz if possible (i may not really need 4ghz but this is more jus a for fun thing)..

so simon's recommendation hits the bullseye??

a year from now i wanna get a bulldozer.

Ermm.... I wouldn't go for the Propus, there is no real need for 4.0ghz because well... Your getting a Zambezi later on. So I personally, no offense, would go with the Athlon II X3 440/445. Mainly because the 440 is actually cheaper than the 640 by 25$, which can be put towards a better cpu cooler. The 440 is also a better deal than the 445 because the extra .1 ghz is not worth paying extra for the 445 when you could just OC the 440.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-processor-co...

The performance shown, shows that a Rana can actually be OC'd to beat a propus, and not to mention if you had a tiny bit of better cooling i bet you could hit 4.0ghz easy on the 440.
Also performance-wise the 440 has the 3 cores so multi-tasking is still good. It also can easily be oc'd on stock, while the propus not so much.

http://www.pureoverclock.com/review.php?id=895&page=3

That shows it, as the 1.5v for the 635 doesn't exactly make it very low on temps if it was oc'd on stock. While the 440 was barely pushed, running on 3.75 at 1.387v.

I agree the 440 is much better value the only reson I didn't mention it was you specifically asked about quads. I built PC for my brother 10 days ago with a 440 and managed to unlock a 4th core & L3 cache making it a full Quad core Phenom (I later locked a core but kept the cache as I could overclcok an extra 500MHz). This was all done on the cheapest motherboard we could find in the UK.

Don't look at the 445 because of the +100mhz, look at it because it's a C3

I'd Look for one that meets the Green-Energy Saving Certification for most efficient and Lower Power and Try giving it an Overclock with Liquid Cooling, seems to be the new chip on the market and probably has the best metal and die process!something thats the smallest .nm die!

okay great ill probably just get one of those X3's then instead of a true quad-core.. maybe ill try to unlock the fourth.. thanks for all the replies! really appreciate it

Feel Free to drop a best response award here! Let the Forum know its a solved and closed thread!

aznshinobi & simon helped me the most.. i dont know who to choose hehe.. how can i choose both

I'm two for two on X3 435's both mine and the Gf's unlocked fine and mine holds 3.5Ghz on air cheerfully
Hth
Moto

Hi.

Any Phenom II X4 can hit the 4GHz on air, just depends of ur skills, airflow and cooler if u can get it.

Few months ago I get the 4GHz with a Phenom II X4 955 C2 in a MSI K9A2 Platinum and a CM Hyper 212+.

Rather than A). AznShinobi B). Simon Choose C). Other!

I think pick your graphics card and get the best Athlon x 3 your budget allows with a coolmaster 212+ or better

That award should be stamped and plated heatsink green energy savings!